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Activity: A bio-diverse community

Activity Introduction

Activity details: Students produce a report about how communities can be involved in biodiversity. The report can focus on a community organisation or a specific community biodiversity project. The report can use any form of media that can effectively communicate the information and other material.

The class might decide they want to display their report in a public place or put it on the Internet. This will change the media they might otherwise use.

Homework and extension opportunities: Some of the work can be done from home.

Keywords: Biodiversity, community, media, conservation, ecosystem.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Introduction

There are a lot of scientific experts involved in protecting and enhancing biodiversity. But at the local level there are not enough experts and resources to do everything. Usually many tasks such as rehabilitating and maintain the local ecosystem is left to local volunteers.

This activity looks at many of the different facets involved in maintaining local biodiversity.

Many of the projects are likely to need students to contact organisations, volunteer groups or institutions for information. The teacher will need to set up a system for students to use emails or postage that fits within your school policies. Email will be much faster. Emails may need to be passed through the teacher.

This activity could be conducted with a different focus. The projects could be set up as a display in a public place e.g., Council foyer, community library, etc. In this case, the media used to create the report will need to suit its location. Alternatively, the material could be designed

Student Worksheet

Activity

In small groups, choose a community biodiversity project to research and report on. Select an appropriate way to present your report. Before you start the investigations, decide who the audience will be and how your reports will be displayed.

Here are some example of investigations:

How the closest indigenous nursery works. Who picks the plants? What are the plants used for?

An example of a wildlife garden designed to attract wildlife. How was it designed? How successful is it? What can other people learn from the garden?

Projects being done by local groups looking after one of the local ecosystems. Describe the project and what it achieved?

A friends or Landcare group that does biodiversity projects. What kind of people are members? What have they achieved? What kind of help do they get? What additional help would they like?

An example of how Council or a land or water authority has worked with the local community to enhance biodiversity.